Hopefully the gospel is clearer as the component parts are defined, explained, and woven togeth- er. Understanding it really starts with knowing God and ourselves. God is holy and must punish sin. We are born into sin and need God’s help to be restored into a right relationship with him. So why does God save us? It is because He loves us (John 3: 16). So Jesus came in the flesh to rec- oncile us with God. We all like sheep had gone astray but God laid on him our sin (Isaiah 53: 6).
Jesus was both God and man. He came to save the lost from the wrath of God. He had to suf- fer and die in the place of all those who would believe. It is by grace that we’re saved, through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). By faith we mean commit- ting your life to God based on an understanding of who Christ is and what he’s done for you. In order for anyone to believe, God has to draw us to Jesus and the gospel. We respond in faith and repentance as a result.